I acquired this frame and fork set earlier in the year in readiness for making a new winter bike. I wanted to learn more about wheels so decided to kill two birds with one stone, build a fixed winter ride and convert an ordinary wheelset thus trying my hand at truing, redishing etc.

On getting it home i discovered that the original forks were like spaghetti. Chalking this one up to experience i ploughed on getting bits together, some period-ish others not quite so.

Playing with the back wheels wasn't too bad, freewheel off, i then respaced and then redished which took about 4 hours and at least 8 spokes. The end result is reasonably good especially when considering that the rims and spokes are almost 30 years old, any further truing was getting difficult as more and more spokes were breaking

The bottom bracket adjustable side was yuck, very very loose. Fortunately everything sort of rights itself with about 2 - 3 turns to go, so i chucked it all together and am now not thinking too hard about it.

It all finally came together mid-September, a winter bike on the road in time for an Indian summer!! The Hiduminum stem and Superhood levers are ones i had knocking around, the gb brakes i got off t'internet, a nice change from Weinmann centre-pulls. The cranks are off a mid 60's Carlton while the wheels are off a mid 70's one. The frame is far too small for me as evidenced by the rather long seatpost but i love the shininess. The forks are new and look like they were made in a shed somewhere in India but they are straight. Ive kept a rear brake as my route home involves some steepish descents, not fun at the best of times in the ice and snow and also as a backup due to the absence of the correct lock ring

Not sure what model it is. The serial number begins with an X. The little information on Sun's i have gathered from here and elsewhere puts it possibly around 1968. Not sure myself. It was painted at some point in it's life as there are some green flakes left around the top of the seat stays, so someone has certainly stripped it. Maybe? As for the model, maybe a Snipe? Anyone else got any ideas?

It weighs a ton but looks great and is a highly inappropriate colour for a winter ride. Perfect

Many, many thanks for the positive posts everyone!!!, it makes me almost forget about the new fork nightmare! Headset locknut fits new forks so LBS cuts to size. Due to the tiny headtube the steerer is tiny also!!!! Fit the forks at home and the locknut wont turn then i realise that the lower 2/3's of the steerer are chromed so i have to 'ream' it with the top nut! Not a nice feeling. Much sweating and cursing later i'm done. Crown race on? NOOOOOOOO it's too big. Bollocks!!! fetch a tin can from the recycling box (tin of beans..maybe Aldi, could be Coop) lots of snipping, wedging, slicing of fingers and voila!! functioning headset

zzpa - its a capacious bag, perfect size for beer take-outs.

jonny69 - wait till you see my 'gentlemans' fixed tourer!

spokesmann - i almost got a constellation f + f of LFGSS earlier in the year but missed it by 2 hours, i was cross for days It;s a thing of beauty that you have.

Many, many thanks for the positive posts everyone!!!, it makes me almost forget about the new fork nightmare! Headset locknut fits new forks so LBS cuts to size. Due to the tiny headtube the steerer is tiny also!!!! Fit the forks at home and the locknut wont turn then i realise that the lower 2/3's of the steerer are chromed so i have to 'ream' it with the top nut! Not a nice feeling. Much sweating and cursing later i'm done. Crown race on? NOOOOOOOO it's too big. Bollocks!!! fetch a tin can from the recycling box (tin of beans..maybe Aldi, could be Coop) lots of snipping, wedging, slicing of fingers and voila!! functioning headset

zzpa - its a capacious bag, perfect size for beer take-outs.

jonny69 - wait till you see my 'gentlemans' fixed tourer!

spokesmann - i almost got a constellation f + f of LFGSS earlier in the year but missed it by 2 hours, i was cross for days It;s a thing of beauty that you have.

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